Emmy-winning comedy writer Barry Blitzer, who penned episodes of such Hanna-Barbera series as The Flintstones, The Jetsons and Top Cat, died January 27 at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California from complications after abdominal surgery, the Writers Guild of America announced. He was 80.
A resident of nearby Pacific Palisades, he was the last living member of the group of writers who shared a Best Comedy Writing Emmy in 1956 for The Phil Silvers Show. They won the award for the episode "You'll Never Get Rich."
Blitzer was the story editor for several 1981 episodes of The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang: "The French Correction," "Kelp!", "Time Schlep," "It's All Downhill from Here," "Double Jeopardy," "Fjords and Sorcery," "There's No Place Like Rome," "Perilous Pauline," "Around the World in 80 Ways," "All This and Timbuktu" and "Give Me a Hand: Something's Afoot." In addition, he was the story editor of Invasion Of The Booby Hatchers, an episode of 1981's Laverne and Shirley in the Army.
In 1968, Blitzer shared a Writers Guild nomination for Get Smart with co-writer Raymond Brenner, a frequent collaborator.
He wrote for such other live-action comedy shows as Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., The Love Boat, Too Close for Comfort, McHale's Navy and Good Times.
In addition, Blitzer wrote for such live-action kids' shows as Land of the Lost.
Born on April 29, 1929, he attended the University of Georgia. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
A Writers Guild of America, West member since 1961, he took part in many WGA events. He was also active in campaigning for equal rights for animation writers.
He was also a guest lecturer at the University of Texas in Austin. For a long time, he wrote a humor column in his home town paper, the Palisadean Post.
Barry Blitzer is survived by his wife Elsie, a daughter and a sister. Donations may be made to the Writers Guild Foundation.
(This post was edited by eminovitz on Feb 4, 2010, 12:13 AM)
